Did You Know This Longview High Grad Just Won a Tony—and Wrote the Play Too

The 2025 Tony Award winners are a buzz with excitement--including one very popular actor--the fabulous Cole Escola! 

Escola won a Tony for Best Lead Performer in a Play or Musical for Oh, Mary! which Cole both wrote and performed! Did you know that Cole has major ties to Washington State and Oregon? I didn't either. It's not even a big secret; I just didn't know about it until today! Can you tell that I am so giddy?

Cole Escola Won a Tony Award for Best Performer, But the Road to Fame Wasn't Easy

According to Wikipedia, Cole's father chased the entire family out of their home with a gun. Poverty, talent, and gumption allowed Cole to channel all that energy into performing in high school plays and musicals. After graduating from high school in Longview, Washington, Cole packed it up and moved to New York to not only attend college for a year, but also to gain experience performing in cabaret shows.

Fast-forward to 2024, when Cole wrote and starred in the off-Broadway edition of Oh Mary! Escola's musical became so popular, it opened on Broadway months later, quickly got nominated for a Pulitzer, and gained Cole the prestigious award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play."

By the way, I just tried to find some seats to the show, and it's already sold out! The last time I can recall a musical or play being this in-demand was Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton!

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CBS Sunday Morning did a story about the rise to fame for "Oh, Mary!" Watch the video below to see it.

Cole Escola Just Made History

Many of our non-binary family and friends have a difficult time being accepted as human beings instead of being looked at and judged for how they present themselves to the world. Cole Escola has made history as being the first non-binary actor to win the Best Actor award. This trophy had nothing to do with being "non-binary"; it had everything to do with talent, sharp humor, and a fresh, original take on an historical figure.

Read More: 5 Fun Facts About Lily Gladstone, the Oscar Nominee from WA State

Cole Escola, Fashionista!

Check out this gallery of Cole Escola’s most jaw-dropping looks—ranked!